President Goodluck Jonathan being hugged and congratulated by the First Lady, Dame Patience while his mother, Mrs. Eunice Jonathan and other members of his immediate family look on at his 57th birthday in Abuja on Thursday, November 20th. [myad]
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for a long term planning towards recovering from the dwindling fortune of sports in Nigeria.
Declaring open the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in Asaba today, Governor Uduaghan wanted, in addition to long term planning, different states of the country to promote grassroots sports by concentrating in sporting activities in areas they have comparative advantage.
Dr. Uduaghan, who bagged the Olympic Sports Personality award at the occasion, stated that Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations because after emerging victorious in the last edition of the competition, there was no consistency in the country’s preparation for the next edition.
He urged Nigerians to avoid apportioning blames but go back to the drawing board and prepare for forthcoming championships, “this is not the time to blame, if we engage in the blame game, we will not be able to get up, the challenge of falling is not about the fall but the ability to get up after the fall and get it right.
“After winning the African Cup of Nations, we went to sleep, we have to plan to succeed again, this is the time to strategize,” he said, adding, “we must not leave sports in the hands of the federal government alone, all states must identify its sports and sportsmen and develop them for the country because if all states develop their potentials in sports, Nigeria will be difficult to beat in sports meet.
“States must provide the needed raw materials for the federal government to polish, grassroots sports must be encouraged in this country and Nigeria must be involved in sports politics at the international level.”
Dr. Uduaghan disclosed that his administration was investing heavily in sports development because of the Delta Beyond Oil economic development model, noting that with active participation in sporting activities, the youths would be positively engaged and called on sports administrators in the country to have retirement programmes for sports men and women.
“We have it as a policy that any athlete who wins a gold medal in Delta State, gets automatic employment into the Delta State Public Service so that when you are no longer active, you have a paid employment and at your old age, you also get your pension because that is one of the ways we believe we can encourage the young ones to take up sports,” he said.
The Minister of Sports, Dr Tamuno Dangogo and Chairman, National Sports Commission who was represented at the occasion by Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba thanked Dr Uduaghan for his support and contributions towards sports development in the country.
He explained that the annual general meeting of the NOC was an opportunity for sports administrators to rub minds on issues affecting sports development and promised cooperation with the NOC on sports development issues and moving sports forward in the country.
The member representing Nigeria at the International Olympic Committee, Alhaji Abdul Gumel challenged delegates to deliberate on ways to make Nigeria excel at sports competitions with the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Sam Ndanusa saying that the AGM was to elect new officers to run the affairs of the committee for the next four years.
President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Chief Solomon Ogba also bagged Distinguished Sports Administrator award while Blessing Okagbare got the Best Current Athlete award and the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tamuno Dangogo got the Sports Development Award.
The Bank of Industry got the Outstanding Developing Partners award, Mr Segun Toriola (Distinguished Athletes Merit Award). Post-humus awards were given to late Alhaji Raheem Adejumo and late Chief Abraham Odia for their contributions to sports development in the country. [myad]
Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has described the action of the security operatives which threw the National Assembly into mayhem today as part of democracy.
The police and officers of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) had tried to prevent speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from entering the National Assembly premises to preside over the House of Representatives plenary, which he reconvened to deliberate on the extension of the state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
In the confusion that ensued, the security operatives threw canisters of teargas indiscriminately at the lawmakers who ran in panic to take covers, even as some lawmakers jumped the perimeter fence to gain entry into the premises while others tried to pull down the main gate into the premises.
Chief Ihedioha, who was apparently invited by the Presidency after the incidence, would not speak to newsmen who accosted him when he emerged from the office of Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo.
When he was pressed to say something, Ihedioha simply said: “it is democracy.”
The deputy speaker, who is still in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to have been allowed easy access into the National Assembly complex whereas the speaker, Tambuwal, who recently defected from PDP to opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) was molested, sparking off the crisis. [myad]
The new Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has vowed to impose maximum disciplinary measures against any judicial officer who circumvent the democratic rules as the nation marches to the 2015 general elections.
Justice Mahmud, at his formal swearing-in today by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Auja, said that the judiciary would remain vigilant to play its constitutional roles towards sustaining the nurturing democracy.
He said that he had taken part in the reform of judiciary in conformity with the current democratic and legal practices, adding that he would continue to improve on them to bring back the glory of judiciary to the country.
The new CJN commended his immediate predecessor, Justice Mariyam Alloma Mukhtar for the transformation she had brought to bear on the judiciary.
Swearing-in the CJN, President Jonathan reminded him that Nigeria is on the threshold of another general election when politicians and political parties jostle for power.
He said that in the midst of these contestations, Nigerians look up to the judiciary as impartial arbiters in the polity, saying that the role of the judiciary in resolving political disputes in the country has been commendable.
“This has, over the years, engendered public confidence thereby discouraging resort to self-help with all its attendant negative consequences. I therefore urge our new Chief Justice to continue to steer the judiciary on the path of forthrightness required to entrench democratic consolidation.
The President noted that Justice Mahmud is assuming office at a time when the nation, including the Judiciary, is implementing institutional reforms in order to improve on governance and service delivery.
“It is particularly gratifying to note that he has been a critical part of these reforms from the onset, and therefore, at a vantage position to superintend over the process. I have no doubt that his tenure will witness even greater zeal in reforming and repositioning the judiciary for the effective and efficient discharge of its constitutional mandate.”
He assured the new CJN his administration’s steadfast commitment to uphold the independence of the judiciary, respect for the rule of law and the fostering of a harmonious relationship with the judiciary.
The President expressed gratitude to Justice Aloma Mukhtar for her invaluable service to Nigeria, saying: “in addition to the historic feat of being Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, she has established her place in the honour roll of great drivers of Nigeria’s growth and development through her committed efforts at repositioning the Judiciary.
“As she retires, it is my hope that she will remain ready and willing to continue to avail the nation of her worthy attributes of courage, diligence, and selfless service.”
He also congratulated Justice Mahmud as the 14th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, even as he immediately conferred on the new CJN the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). [myad]
Stakeholders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have threatened to vote against the party if it tampers with the existing zoning arrangement in Uyo Senatorial District.
They are claiming that the senatorial ticket for 2015 has already been zoned to Uyo Federal Constituency where Uruan Local Government remains the only area that had not produced a senator since the commencement of the zoning arrangement 30 years ago.
The stakeholders are angry that even though they have already adopted former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bassey Etim, from Uruan local government, the State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio is now pushing for Obong Bassey Albert Akpan from Ibiono where the incumbent senator, Ita Enang comes from.
Albert had originally collected forms to contest the gubernatorial position of the state but was forced to step down following the insistence the state PDP on zoning the 2015 governorship post to Eket Senatorial District.
His stepping down to senatorial position has already received the endorsement of the National Working Committee (NWC) which noted in Abuja on Wednesday that it is in line with the zoning arrangement being encouraged by the national leadership.
“Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship aspirant, Obong Bassey Albert obeys NWC decision on zoning the 2015 governorship election to Eket Senatorial District, dumps gubernatorial ambition and picked form for senatorial election,” an unsigned statement from the PDP said.
However, rising from a meeting in Uyo, the Uyo Senatorial District Stakeholders Forum vowed to defend the original zoning arrangement to ensure that Uruan does not lose out in position.
Chairman of the Uyo Senatorial District PDP Stakeholders Forum, Bishop Asuquo Ekandem, told newsmen that what the stakeholders are asking for is equity and justice.
He threatened that if the existing zoning arrangement is violated and Uruan is not given the ticket, they will be forced to vote for another party as long as that party fields an Uruan indigene.
According to him, the area has been practising zoning for about 30 years, even as he insisted that there will be acrimony and absence of equity if zoning is abandoned at this point.
“We expect everybody to be fair minded, we expect everybody to observed agreed rules and procedures so that when it is the turn of another area, we will agreed to allow them to nominate people.
“We expect people to have integrity and abide by decisions that have been used and used successfully.”
He hoped that the PDP will do the right thing and “allow people to have their fair share of the cake,” Bishop Ekandem observed that it is necessary to remind the party to stick to the promise it has made.
“Don’t forget that people have options to vote for other candidates. If people decide this time they will not observe equity, they will not observe fairness, they will not stand by their integrity and agreements reached, people can always vote for some other persons.
“If they go and bring somebody from somewhere else, the people of Uyo can decide to vote for another party.” [myad]
Senate President, David Mark has shut down the National Assembly following attempt by security operatives to prevent speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal from entering the Assembly premises to preside over a reconvened House to deliberate on the request by President Goodluck Jonathan to extend the State of Emergency in the three north east states ravaged by Boko Haram. The security operatives’ action led to a pandemonium , during which teargas canisters were indiscriminately thrown at the lawmakers who ran in different direction to take cover.
Reports said that though Speaker Tambuwal eventually gained entrance into the complex, but that other lawmakers had to scale a fence to get into the complex.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba has been summoned to explain the action of the security operatives at the National Assembly.
Today’s resumption was to enable the House of Representatives to deliberate on Consideration of President Jonathan’s request for extension of the existing State of Emergency.
The spokesperson of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed confirmed to journalists at the APC secretariat in Abuja that security operatives prevented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining entrance into the National Assembly Complex.
“I spoke with speaker Aminu Tambuwal five minutes ago and he confirmed to me that he has been locked out of the National Assembly complex at the second gate,” Mr. Mohammed said.
The APC spokesperson said that while Tambuwal is disallowed from entering the complex, his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, is already in the chamber.
”The Speaker reconvene the House at the instance of the President who wrote a letter to the Speaker asking for an extension of the state of emergency in three states and now he is being ambushed and not allowed in, it is a sad development for our country
“There must be limit to impunity and we are being ridiculed in the eyes of the world.”
Speaker Aminu Tambuwal incurred the wrath of the ruling PDP after he announced his defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress on 28 October. He then adjourned the sitting of the House till 3 December. But on Tuesday, he announced an emergency reconvening of the House following President Jonathan’s request for an extension of the state of emergency in three north east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. [myad]
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has described the crisis caused by the security siege at the National Assembly today as the highlight of the arrogance and incompetent of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he said has lost the meaning of good governance.
“This crisis highlights the absolute failure of the current PDP’s idea of government: arrogant, indifferent and incompetent,” Atiku asserted.
Reacting to the incident at the National Assembly where heavily armed security operatives prevented Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining access to the House to preside over the deliberation on the extension of emergency rule in the North-East, the former Vice President said in a statement by his media office that the “siege mentality” of the Jonathan administration poses grave threats to Nigeria’s democracy, the rule of law and the separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Obviously, the emergency rule has failed to stem the unrest. The Federal Government must work with, rather than against those who understand and have been elected by the people to govern.”
According to Atiku, this crude display of power by the President and his agents portends ominous signals for the future of our democracy, which is not a surprise as President Jonathan did not participate in the costly struggle that brought our present democracy into being.
He said the behaviour of the PDP-led government towards Tambuwal was not decent and acceptable under a president that has committed himself to uphold the rule of law.
The former Vice President regretted that abuse of power by using state agents to harass, intimidate and humiliate perceived opponents by the President was not only capable of heating the polity on frightening scale, but also carried the risks of polarizing and politicizing security operatives in the country.
He reminded the President that he was elected to uphold the Constitution of the country, and not to use power arbitrarily against political opponents.
The former Vice President advised President Jonathan to practice what he preaches by not heating up the polity, an accusation he always directs at opposition politicians.
“What is happening at the National Assembly taken together with what unfolded today on Thursday at the Ekiti House of Assembly is totally strange. It is not the democracy we fought for; for which many of our compatriots paid for with their lives. These free-riders should not be allowed to destroy what others built with their sweat and blood.
“It is not too late, however, for President Jonathan to pull the plug on these assaults to our democracy because it is inconceivable that the show of shame at the National Assembly is what he wanted as a birthday present.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has made it clear that he would not give up to those who are out to blackmail his government. This is even as he is angered by those he said, have been making statements that are treasonable but hide under the constitutional immunity clause.
President Jonathan spoke today when he received Bayelsa state stakeholders who paid him a visit at his resident in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. to wish him happy birth day.
The President admitted that Nigeria, like other countries in the world, are facing some challenges, but that he was sure that the country will come out of those challenges better.
“Country like Israel, I’m not sure whether they have known peace; they are always fighting, yet they are moving and developing despite fighting. Our challenges should not deter us from moving; the country is not coming to an end. We must overcome these challenges. This country must unite.
He said that people who have been making statements threatening the survival of the country do not wish the country well. He is particularly disturbed by the destructive statement being made by those who he said, are enjoying constitutional immunity.
“Those people are abusing the privilege. That is why most Nigerians say the immunity clause should be removed, because some people don’t merit it. Some people are making statements that are treasonable. Nobody can upturn this country. This country must continue. We will not give up to blackmail by anybody. We will do our best and Nigeria must survive this temporary setback.” [myad]
President Goodlcuk Jonathan will travel to London tomorrow evening to preside over a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council (HIIC) which opens in the British capital on Friday.
The HIIC which was established in 2004 advises the Federal Government on matters pertaining to Nigeria’s economic development, making the Nigerian economy more competitive globally and attracting greater direct foreign investment to boost domestic industrial growth and job creation.
According to a statement from the Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, deliberations at the HIIC meeting in London will focus on the current investment landscape in Nigeria, developments and opportunities in the ongoing upgrade and expansion of Nigeria’s public infrastructure, as well as opportunities and reforms in Nigeria’s rail transportation, power and construction sectors.
He said that the President will be accompanied to the meeting by key ministers including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, the Minister of Defence, Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd.) and the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar.
They will be joined at the meeting by the Coordinator of the HIIC, Baroness Lynda Chalker and other key members of the Council including Haruki Hayashi of the Mitsubishi Corporation, Yves Louis Darricarrere of Total, Andy Brown of Shell, Guillame Roux of Larfarge, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Jim Ovia, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, some state governors and the Chairmen of the National Assembly Committees on Transport.
President Jonathan is expected back in Abuja on Sunday. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has confessed that if it were not the strong support which the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave him, the opposition political parties would have confused him and mess up his Transformation Agenda.
“The opposition is getting stiffer everyday as we approach the 2015 general elections, but thank God and for the PDP family that has stood by me.”
The President spoke today at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Post Declaration luncheon at the Presidential Aso Villa, Abuja. The President used the occasion to dissolve the Presidential Declaration Committee, headed by the former minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello.
Jonathan reminded the PDP top shots and members that the task ahead as the nation enters the campaign era is very tough, and that everyone should be on his or her toes.
He expressed confidence that with the caliber of people in PDP, no other party would be able to measure up to its high standards, even as he assured the stakeholders that with their continued support, he would move Nigeria forward to where it supposed to be in the comity of nations.
President Jonathan considered himself lucky to be what he called “a privileged Presidential aspirant” whose candidature would be confirmed at the party’s national convention in a fortnight from now.
“I want the aspirants in the party at whatever level to take whatever result they get at the party’s state congresses in good faith. Some of the aspirants are privileged like me, but those who will be elected at the congresses should work hard for the success of the party.
“in life, what I looked for I didn’t get; it is what I did not look for that I got.”
Speaking at the occasion, the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu said that the road to 2015 general elections is tough and rough but that the party is up to the task.
Mu’azu called on the party members to remain focus and be disciplined, adding: “this is the only way we can move forward.”
The chairman described President Jonathan as the most successful leader in Nigeria today, adding that his declaration to run for the second term in office was ‘presidential.” [myad]
